lee909

Just reading some reports on the mid/late round centres and it seems a really weak spot in the draft.All of them either lack strength or really struggle with speed. Im hoping that the Saints maybe bring Goodwin in for a year and see about developing one of them for a year and if they are not up to it draft the best C next year.

Example report

(C) Gabe Ikard
Just reading up on him now as a mid/late round Centre.
The report is he is on the ground alot and not to strong,also struggles with speed.



Next year early rankings have Hroniss Grasu Oregon and Reese Dismukes Auburn as the best two centres.

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES

STRENGTHS: Impressive quickness to render opponents ineffective, often peeling off the defensive tackle to take on defenders at the second level when run blocking and easily sliding laterally to handle pass pro duties. Impressive core strength while anchoring. Most impressive, because of his athleticism, Oregon is one of the few teams that asks its center to pull.
WEAKNESSES:

Compares To: Max Unger, C, Seahawks -- like the other former Duck, Grasu relies on athleticism and technique rather than power.

--Rob Rang

PLAYER OVERVIEW

The Los Angeles native was a two-way starter at Crespi High School who was a first-team all-state selection as a sophomore. By the time he was a senior, Grasu was a stalwart on an offensive line paving the way for 1,958 rushing yards.
Like many Oregon recruits, Grasu wasn't highly coveted by all the major programs. A three-star recruit by ESPN.com, Grasu was valued by the Ducks for his athleticism.

After redshirting in 2010, he jumped in as a 14-game starter redshirt freshman. He built his string of consecutive starts to 27 entering the 2013 season after earning first-team Pac-12 honors in 2012. (9/24/13)

"Two receivers to the left, Garcon to the right. Manning in the shotgun, puts Collie in motion. Looks in his direction...it's picked off! It's picked off! It's Tracy Porter again! He's runnin' free! He's gonna go all the way!

hagan714

Marcus Martin, C, USC i just do not get. great versatility i guess, starter for two years at ROG moved to OC this year and did OK. Pick him as your #1 OC on the board is putting a heck of a lot of trust upside. Because on tape i do not see a #1 OC in the draft. media department at USC strikes again or what? If he can handle the mental game at the NFL level then he is the right pick

Colorado State's Weston Richburg is a phone both technitian. head on a swivel quick feet, good short area mobility and athleticism. The biggest pluses on the kid is Highly intelligent.great intangibles, Biggest knock is strength. sandwiched between two all pro's and some weight training he should be good to go and only get better

Arkansas' Travis Swanson. Best suited for a zone-blocking scheme? dirty player is always a plus in the trenches if he is smart and gets away with it. There in lies the rub. can he handle the mental aspect of the job at the NFL level. never talked to the kid so i can not answer that concern, but at times his play did leave you wondering. Plus he does not seem to play with his head on a swivel as well i would like.

developmental picks

Utah State's Tyler Larsen Ahh a pre season must watch of mine. He did not disappoint. scrappy blue collar mentality that held his own. he loves his pancakes that is for sure. he definitely is among the best at finishing of his blocks at all levels. i actual watched second level defenders pull and flinch when Tyler had them in his sights. truly fun to watch. man-blocking system? maybe but with his mentality i think he is hard to pigeon hole.

Oklahoma's Gabe Ikard i do not get this kid. he may play up to his competition. at times this year he looked like a #1 OC totally ingored by the media much. So focus and comment are my #1 concerns with him. But the skill set is there

North Carolina Russell Bodine Now IMO here is a player that must interview well and should have probably stayed in school. Because if your looking for a player that may develop into a starter but at the very least has an excellent shot at developing into a valuable backup at both OG and OC for years to come, this might just be the guy. He needs some positioning coaching without a doubt. he got exposed this year trying to be the heart and soul of the interior line. But as a Jr i have to ask learning experience or serious limitations. i am going with a wake up call


As you can see i like interior OL that are blue collar and have a nasty edge to there game. Spiting on a defenders hand is cool in my book, aka Conrad Dobler mentality.

But they have to smart and play with their heads on swivel in order to pick up the complex stunts and blitzes that will have thrown at them at the NFL level.

no matter who you draft you will need a safety blanket IMO in the presence of a veteran mentor to back them up and coach-em.

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins